Streaking the Lawn’s Week 9 ACC Football Power Rankings

This year’s Game of the Century lived up to the hype. Who knows what would have happened at a 100% healthy Clemson, but also who cares?

1 (tie). Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-0, 6-0)
Last game: win 47-40 vs. Clemson. This week: at BC

It took facing a freshman QB and double overtimes but Brian Kelly has the big signature win at Notre Dame. ND now in the driver’s seat to play Clemson again in Charlotte.

1 (tie). Clemson Tigers (7-1, 6-1)
Last game: loss 47-40 at ND. This week: BYE

Tigers get a week off to heal up and get Trevor Lawrence back in game ready mode. Poor Seminoles next week are going to lose by 167.

3. Miami-Florida Hurricanes (6-1, 5-1)
Last game: win 44-41 at NC State. This week: at VT

Hurricanes are playing with fire winning their last three games by only a combined 20 points. Another road trip to Blacksburg this weekend presents another test.

4. North Carolina Tar Heels (5-2, 5-2)
Last game: win 56-24 at Duke. This week: vs. Wake

Tar Heels maintain supremacy in the Triangle going 2-0 against NC State and Duke. Now they get to try an establish dominance over the whole state against Wake this weekend.

5. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-2, 3-2)
Last game: win 38-14 at Syracuse. This week: at UNC

We wrote off the Deacs after the 0-2 start but with a somewhat manageable final five games, they could end up 8-3 on the season.

6. Virginia Tech Hokies (4-3, 4-2)
Last game: loss 38-35 vs. Liberty. This week: vs. Miami

Head scratching time management at Lane Stadium is a thing we can all appreciate.

7. N.C. State Wolfpack (4-3 4-3)
Last game: loss 44-41 vs. Miami. This week: vs. FSU

It looked like the Pack had found their replacement QB in Bailey Hockman and were going to pull of the Friday night shocker. Getting outscored 13-0 over the final 14 minutes of play isn’t great though.

8. Boston College Eagles (5-3, 4-3)
Last game: win 16-13 at Syracuse. This week: vs. ND

BC had the patented let down game after the Clemson build up game. It happens, but they pulled out the W, which is all that matters. Win your clunkers.

9. Virginia Cavaliers (2-4, 2-4)
Last game: win 44-41 vs. UNC. This week: vs. Louisville

Best 2-4 team in the country? Beat Louisville this week and we can talk.

10. Pittsburgh Panthers (4-4, 3-4)
Last game: win 44-17 at FSU. This week: at GT

After getting embarrassed by ND the week before, Panthers get thorough revenge against FSU. They’ll certainly lose to Clemson, but beating VT and GT before that could put a good taste in their mouth heading to bowl season.

11. Louisville Cardinals (2-5, 1-5)
Last game: loss 42-35 vs. VT. This week: at UVA

The Cardinals have been pretty competitive in all but one of their loss (GT weirdly enough). Tough to say what team shows up this week in Charlottesville given their recent COVID history.

12. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-5, 2-4)
Last game: loss 31-13 vs. ND. This week: vs. Pitt

This game could be a bellweather game for Geoff Collins. Pitt is the kind of team that could show how far GT has come. Win and they’re feeling pretty good. Lose and it might be another few years before a step.

13. Florida State Seminoles (2-5, 1-5)
Last game: loss 41-17 vs. Pitt. This week: at NC State.

So they were bad to begin with but now Mike Norvell is losing players to injury and transfer. Clemson comes next week. Yikes.

14. Duke Blue Devils (2-6, 1-6)
Last game: loss 56-24 vs. UNC. This week: BYE

Only one of their six losses has come by single digits (38-31 vs VT) so it doesn’t appear like Duke is even close to the rest of the conference right now. At least they get FSU at the end of the season for a momentous slap fight.

15. Syracuse Orange (1-7, 1-6)
Last game: loss 16-13 vs. BC. This week: BYE

Last week’s loss was the first Cuse loss this season by single digits. Are they making progress or did BC have a bad game? Probably the latter.